Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty-Two — A New Chapter in Your Life
Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty-Two — A New Chapter in Your Life "Booksie!" I cheered, though I tried not to be too loud about it.I met the Bun out by the side of a large warehouse that Amaryllis had rented out and emptied for the occasion. It wasn't the prettiest building, but it was one of the only ones in the entire city large enough to accommodate dragons, with enormous doors all along one side of the building.Right now, it was set up as more of an open pavilion than a warehouse of any sort. There were draperies all over and a good chunk of money had been spent repainting the entire space.I was pretty sure the city had even cleaned out the area around here, making it prettier to look at. It helped, because this wasn't in the nicest parts of Port Royal.Peeking past Booksie, I could make out half a dozen dragons, some with their heads partially in the warehouse-turned-reception hall, others gathered outside. They were snacking on half-loaves of bread and wheels of cheese."Hi Broccoli," Booksie said. She smiled, then opened her arms for a hug. "Come on, I need some energy.""Aww!" I said before returning the hug. "Is everything okay? I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help with the reception.""Oh, it's fine," Booksie said. "Well ... mostly fine. A smaller dragon went overboard with the wine — by the fourth cask they were very drunk. Oh, and Cholondee either has a crush on — or wants to fight — one of the guests. And one of the chefs fainted when a dragon tried to complement his cooking."I blinked. "Why?"Booksie looked a bit embarrassed. "The dragon may've gotten a bit too enthusiastic. And leaned in too close. While showing too many teeth." She paused. "But otherwise, things have been pretty calm"I gave her a last squeeze before letting the hug go. Booksie looked fine, other than looking like she had had a long day. The cosmetic magic layered on her was still making her glow, and she'd never been prettier. Booksie smiled, and I saw her gently touch the ring carefully placed on her finger."Where's Rhawr?" I asked."Oh, he's chaperoning his mom back home. I don't think he wanted to leave me here, but... well, she also got into the wine. I didn't know that dragons could even get drunk. She's very weepy when inebriated, you know?"I placed a hand over my mouth to keep the giggles in. "No! She was crying a bunch during the wedding.""I saw! I think it's sweet. She's very proud of her, ah, little baby boy." Booksie grinned, and I think she'd just gotten her hands on some good teasing material. "He should be back in a few. He said he was going to make sure she was nestled in her hoard correctly before returning.""Good, good," I said with a happy sigh. The sky was already turning the darker blue of incoming night. The day wasn't over yet, but... well, my feet were kind of ache-y and I could definitely use a nap."So... I didn't get the full story, but I did notice the people working security getting nervous, and then you ran off with Awen and the others for a while. What happened?" Booksie asked."Oh, sorry. We didn't want to worry you," I said."It's fine. I'm assuming whatever it was is taken care of?""More or less." I shifted a bit. "So, you know Rainnewt?""Did he show up? Rhawr promised he'd take a nibble out of him if he tried to ruin the day," Booksie said. The way her eyes narrowed, I was more worried that she might do more than just nibble the man.I shook my head, then paused. "Uh, sorta? He sent a gift. A letter, a countdown timer, and a book. I'll show you the book later, I guess. You might be able to tell what it's all about.""That's... not ideal. Did he leave a return address, perchance?" Booksie asked sweetly. I think she might have sent more than just a strongly-worded letter back."No, nothing like that. Too bad too. We'll have to look at the book later, but apparently it has something to do with Black Avatars?""Like the fairy tales?" Booksie asked.I shrugged. "Maybe? I don't have a good background to know what the fairy tales around here are like."Booksie nodded along at that. "I suppose not. Still, I can't imagine he's up to any good, but I'm happy that he didn't show up himself to cause trouble. Unless this was the precursor to even worse news?""Nope!" I said. "That was it. I think the Mages Guild and the Exploration Guild got a bit spooked about the gift, the guard too, but that was mostly them being worried about some sort of attack. But... nothing happened?"Booksie's shoulders slumped. "Good. Good. I think the worst that'll happen from all of this is maybe some dragons returning home with strange ideas and Rhawr's mother... my mother-in-law waking up with a draconic hangover."I giggled. "I guess that's not the worst outcome for such a big wedding!""No, I suppose it really isn't," Booksie said. She smiled, then pulled me into another hug. I certainly didn't fight it. "Thank you, Broccoli. I think we can call this wedding a success.""Yeah!" I said.And then, as if the world had heard Booksie calling it done, I got a ping.Bing Bong! Congratulations, your Cinnamon Bun Bun class has reached level 18!Health + 5Resilience +5You have gained: One Class PointBing Bong! Congratulations, your Wonderlander class has reached level 7!Mana +5Flexibility +5You have gained: One Class Point"Wha! I got two level ups!" I said.Booksie laughed. "I got some the moment I gave Rhawr a kiss on stage! It's normal to get a level after such a big event, I think! I guess your helping so much counts for a lot, and now that it's complete you're reaping the rewards!""Neat!" I said. Level eighteen! And seven too! That was... five total levels away from hitting the threshold I'd need to unlock a third class. That was huge! There were only maybe one in a hundred people in a city like Port Royal who had a third class, and most of those were experts and older people with long careers.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation."Come on, you can check your new stats while I go find some leftovers. I've been holding back on eating too much all day, and now I'm starving," Booksie said."Not eating isn't healthy," I said automatically."Yes, but the embarrassment of appearing bloated under this dress would be worse than waiting a bit before snacking. At this point though, I don't care anymore," she replied as she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the warehouse-turned-dining hall.I laughed and allowed her to tug me along. I did poke Mister Menu with my mind to see what was up, though.
Name
Broccoli Bunch
Race
Bun (Riftwalker)
First Class
Cinnamon Bun Bun
First Class Level
18
Second Class
Wonderlander
Second Class Level
7
Age
16
Health
165
Stamina
185
Mana
170
Resilience
80
Flexibility
95
Magic
40
Skills
Rank
Cinnamon Bun Bun Skills
Cleaning
S — 28%
Way of the Mystic Bun
C — 100%
Gardening
D — 59%
Adorable
D — 100%
Chivalry
E — 87%
Wonderlander Skills
Mad Millinery
D — 100%
Proportion Distortion
C — 43%
Social Butterfly
D — 100%
Snoozing
D — 86%
General Skills
Insight
C — 100%
Makeshift Weapon Proficiency
C — 100%
Archeology
D — 100%
Friendmaking
C — 100%
Hugging Proficiency
C — 100%
Captaining
C — 100%
Cinnamon Bun Bun Skill Points
5
Wonderlander Skill Points
7
General Skill Points
6
First Class Skill Slots
0
Second Class Skill Slots
0
General Skill Slots
4
"Anything good?" Booksie asked."I'm getting close to a new Wonderlander skill," I said. "And soon I'll have a third class! We did so many dungeons that I don't even remember all of the options I've got! But it's a heap!""That's fantastic," Booksie said. "I'm just worried that you might need that power up sooner rather than later.""Why do you say that? Because of Rainnewt?" I asked. We moved to the back of the room where a long table was stacked with the remains of finger foods of all sorts.Booksie nodded along while plucking up some tiny tomato things on skewers with cheese balls. "Exactly. That, or some other troubles. You and your friends have been in the limelight for a while now. That means lots of attention, good and ill. The stronger you appear, the more people will hesitate to poke at you, but also, the more they will feel like they must poke at you. That's an important lesson that I picked up from all the dragons.""I guess they'd know," I said. "I don't know about impressing people. I'm just happy that I've made good friends, that I get to go on big adventures, and that I get to see the world. Numbers going up is nice, but it's not what I want to live for."Booksie smiled. "That's okay too. In fact, that might be a better way to enjoy things."I nodded. I thought it might be. But then, what did I know? I was just a silly, happy bun.
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Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty-Three — Looking a Gift Book in the Mouth
Chapter Five Hundred and Twenty-Three — Looking a Gift Book in the Mouth The morning after the wedding found everyone in a state of incredible exhaustion.I think it was only an hour short of noon before I managed to claw my way to wakefulness, sitting up on the edge of the bed and blearily glancing around my cabin aboard the Beaver Cleaver.It was some time later that I managed to trudge my way down to the kitchen. "Hungry," I complained as I slumped into a chair and then just stared across the room.Calamity was at the stove, poking at something with the energy of a cat who was done playing with its prey and just wanted it to move. It looked like he was making oatmeal or something. Boiled milk and oats, with some granola for texture. Not exactly the fanciest of foods... but I really wanted it."You get your turn after me," Amaryllis snapped. She was in another of the dining area's chairs, wings crossed and face set in a birdy frown. Amaryllis was still in her PJs, a big fluffy shirt with little flowers embroidered at the hems and loose pants that matched."Shouldn't the captain get first dibs?" Calamity asked.Amaryllis narrowed her eyes. "... No," she finally said.I slumped a little more. "But I'm hungry?""There's enough for everyone. If you wanted to eat first, then you could get up earlier.""Betrayal! Betrayal from my..." I yawned. "...From my own bestest friend!"Amaryllis rolled her eyes betrayingly.One by one, more of the crew trickled in. Awen came in, still wrapped in a big blanket and stifling a yawn, and Desiree followed after her, casually brushing one of her fox tails out. She looked the most prepared for a normal day out on the town."Is Caprica okay?" I asked.Awen shrugged, then yawned again. "Maybe?"Well, I'd go check on her then... after breakfast. Booksie's wedding had been a whole thing and now that it was over, it felt like a decade's worth of stress was lifted off my shoulders all at once. I couldn't imagine what it was like for Booksie, the star of the show.Calamity came around with grub, which we were quick to improve by cutting up some fruit and adding a few little bits of that kind of hard chocolate that travelled well. It didn't taste great, but hunger was a good spice for just about anything.Eventually Caprica joined us, looked just a smidge frazzled, but judging by the way she sniffed at the air, that didn't matter as much. "I can't believe I slept in so late," she complained as she sat down. "My teachers would be upset to learn that I've let my discipline slip so much.""It's okay," I assured her. "We had a long day."Desiree nodded along as she tugged a brush through her tail a final few times. "Indeed. One of the longest in my life. However, I have no doubt that as the stress and unpleasantness fades from our thoughts, the remaining joy will be refined into a cherished memory."I nodded. It would! I wish they had better cameras in this world, I would have loved to see a bunch of photos, or have a few to stick to my bedroom's walls. Oh well!Breakfast was a little less rowdy than usual, with most of us only barely having enough energy to bring spoon to mouth, but as it carried on, the energy levels increased a little.A few friends wandered off to get dressed more appropriately, and eventually I decided to do the same, though I left my breastplate and armour behind in my room. I didn't figure I'd need it when we were otherwise safe.I was just leaving my room when Caprica knocked at my door. "Broccoli, we have a guest.""A guest?" I asked.She nodded. "My guards just let me know. They're posted by the docks."I knew about them. With all of the worry and the recent kidnapping... well, people from the Sylphfree embassy didn't want their princess to be kidnapped, so we had a pair of sylph guards hanging out by the gangplank leading onto the Beaver."Anyone we know?" I asked.She smiled. "Booksie.""Really?" I asked."And an escort, apparently she warrants that now," Caprica said. "I don't know what she's doing out here the day after her wedding.""Is she still waiting?"Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon."She needs the captain's permission to board," Caprica said."Huh! But she's a friend! Of course she can get on!" I said.Caprica shrugged. "That's the excuse I used to keep the guards off the ship, so that's the excuse they're using as well."Hmph!" I hmphed. Caprica just smiled though, and she followed me as I darted across the ship and up onto the main deck, then it was a hurried rush across to the side with the gangplank.I found Booksie standing on the dockside, wearing a nice travelling set and with a thick shawl wrapped around her shoulders for warmth. She had a crocheted beanie on, one with a pair of long sleeves for her ears. The weight of the beanie dragged them down."Booksie!" I cheered as I rushed down to meet her.She laughed and spread her arms wide for the inevitable hug-crash. "Hi!" she squeaked. "How are you doing?""I'm great!" I said. "How are you? I didn't expect to see you so soon after the wedding."Booksie flushed, then shrugged. "Ah, well, Rhawr is still sleeping, so I thought I'd get out and get some chores done. We'll be leaving tonight, though.""Leaving?" I asked. A pit formed in my stomach. Leaving where? For what?She nodded. "Our honeymoon! Rhawr can be such a romantic. He said that we're going on a trip to visit my family to give them the good news personally. Ah, I expect that we might actually arrive shortly after my first letters.""Your family? Oh! Aren't they all in... uh..." I tried to remember. Booksie had mentioned where she was from before, but it was slipping my mind now. Somewhere way out west."Pyrowalk," Booksie said. "Past the Ostri desert and the Silverstar Forest. It's a month-long journey to get to the outer fringes of the country, longer still to get to where my family lives.""That's kind of a long trip," I said."Oh, it's a month-long trip if you're travelling normally and don't own your own ship. That would mean taking a caravan across the desert's edge, then an airship or two. There aren't too many who make the trip. The other option is a sea-going ship across the Moonstruck sea, but that's even longer. Fortunately, Rhawr and I are taking a more direct route." She grinned. "Rhawr got permission from the dragons that live around the desert and the forest to fly over their territory.""Oh! That makes a lot of sense," I said. "Come on! There's still some breakfast leftover, if you want, and it's warmer inside!""I won't say no to warming my toes a little," Booksie said.I led her up onto the main deck, then over to the poop deck where we entered the ship proper. It was noticeably warmer within, the winter chill kept at bay by the magical warming device that Awen had strung up within the ship. It fed off of ambient mana and created just a fountain of heat, enough that touching it felt kind of toasty. It was enough to drive off the chill of winter."Actually, one of the things I wanted to look into before I left are the things that Rainnewt left behind," Booksie said. "His 'gifts.'""Ah, those," I said. "I think Amaryllis placed them all in a chest and locked it up, just in case. You wanted to see the countdown clock?""The book, actually," Booksie said. "I happen to know a thing or two about those. Maybe I can help?"I nodded. That was a good idea. Rainnewt had left a few strange items as a wedding gift, something that had raised quite the alarm.We found Amaryllis, and after the usual hellos and trade of hugs she went to fetch the chest where Rainnewt's stuff had been... stuffed.Amaryllis dropped the chest onto the dining room table, then unlatched it. "The Mages Guild and the Exploration Guild and the city all wanted to keep these things," she explained. "I had to beat my wings to keep them away."Within was the stuff that Rainnewt had sent. The letter, addressed to me and written in English, the countdown timer, and a strange old book."Well well," Booksie said as she carefully took the book and lifted it up. "This is interesting. Did the people from either guild tell you anything about this?""No? It's not magical, just a normal book, I think."Booksie snorted. "Normal. Put on some tea, and I'll see what I can figure out about this one."
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